ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AND ITS COMPLICATION(S) IN EKPOMA, ESAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants played a key role in the health maintenance of local residents; an edrnobotanical survey might help to preserve the traditional information and knowledge on the medicinal uses of these plants. The aim of this was was to obtain an inventory of major medicinal plants used traditionally for the management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(BPH) and its complications from Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo state.

The use of semi-structured questionnaire was adopted to obtain relevant ethnomedicinal data. A total of twenty five (25) questionnaires were administered to obtain ethnobotanical information on the plants used in the treatment of BPH and its associated complications.

A total of 25 respondents (traditional healers, herb sellers, elders and others) in the communities were interviewed. Many of the respondents claimed to have inherited their knowledge of herbal treatment from their ancestors and training. The plants obtained were identified in the department of Plant and Biotechnology University of Benin. A total of thirty-four plants mentioned from thirty-one families were collected. These families include: Irvingiaceae, Euphobiaceae, Caricacaea and others. Most of the recipes are used in combination for proper treatment of BPH. Results from the survey reveals different herbs used in the treatment of BPH and related complications. The study further gives credence to ethnobotanical survey as relevant tool in natural product drug discovery and documentation